Mesquite is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, located in Dallas County with portions extending into Kaufman County. The population was 150,108 at the 2020 census, making it the 22nd-most populous city in Texas. Mesquite is positioned at the crossroads of four major highways (Interstates 30, 635, 20, and U.S. Route 80), making locations such as downtown Dallas, Lake Ray Hubbard, Dallas Love Field, and DFW International Airport accessible.
According to legislative action, the city is the "Rodeo Capital of Texas". In 2016, Mesquite received a Playful City USA designation for the fourth year in a row. The city has been named a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation for over 25 years. The city of Mesquite holds the 10th-longest reign in all of Texas.
The city of Mesquite is served by its own local airport, Mesquite Metro Airport. Companies and institutions with a major presence in the city are the United Parcel Service, AT&T, Charter Spectrum, Eastfield College, Ashley Furniture, and FedEx.
History Before settlement Centuries before American settlers moved into the area, Mesquite was an open prairie land and a key trading ground for indigenous peoples. The Ionies were a western tribe located close to present-day Fort Worth. The Tawakonies were in present-day Dallas. Finally, the Caddo were the native farmers of the Mesquite land. From 1680 to 1790, after harvest was over, these three tribes held an annual tournament and trading fair.
In 1871 David Walker Florence and Julia Beaty Florence began the Florence Ranch Homestead, located at present day 1424 Barnes Bridge Rd in Mesquite. A successful stock ranch and farm, the initial purchase of 207.5 acres increased to 730 acres by 1892. The original home is now a historic house museum located on 4 acres of park land.
Settlement The city of Mesquite was founded on March 14, 1873, on land along the Texas & Pacific Railway, which ran from Dallas to Shreveport, Louisiana. The locals then named the town after Mesquite Creek. The city was officially incorporated on December 3, 1887, after electing Mayor J.E. Russell.
In the city's earliest years, it was known for many outlaws residing in the area. A prominent outlaw was Sam Bass, historically known for his train robberies in Texas. In 1878, he robbed a train in downtown Mesquite, escaping with only $152. Bass missed the $30,000 hidden by the express agent in the unused pot belly stove. The Mesquiter, established in 1882 by R.S. Kimbrough, was Dallas County's longest-running newspaper.
Development Mesquite prospered through the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a farming community, growing cotton, hay, corn, and sugarbeets, and using the railroad to ship raw goods. The town remained predominantly agrarian until after World War II, when the suburban boom took root in Mesquite.
In 1946, the Mesquite Rodeo was founded by Charlie Columbus McNally, and was one of the only rodeos that had a permanent location. By the mid-1980s, the events were being broadcast by ESPN.
In 1959, Big Town Mall opened as the first air-conditioned shopping mall in the United States. Portions of the Talking Heads movie 'True Stories' were filmed at this mall. The mall was demolished in the summer of 2006, and FedEx opened a logistics center on the property in 2017.
By 1970, the LBJ Freeway (I-635) was constructed, connecting Mesquite to its neighbors, Garland to the north and Balch Springs to the south. Also, in 1971, Town East Mall was constructed. The mall was used by director Ron Howard to film portions of the movie Cotton Candy in 1978. It can also be seen in drive-by footage in the Talking Heads movie 'True Stories', by Talking Heads frontman David Byrne. The mall's associated traffic and shops would continue to grow the town.
In 1986, the Mesquite Arena opened its doors as the new home for the Mesquite ProRodeo. By 1998, the facility was expanded to include a convention center, exhibition hall, and a Hampton Inn and Suites.
By the 1990 census, the city had grown to 101,484 people, up from 1,696 residents in 1950.
In 2011, Mesquite passed a law allowing beer and wine sales in the city. The measure had been considered several times for many years, but was always blocked by strong protest against the proposed sales. It was one of the few cities without beer and wine sales in eastern Dallas County before the law came into effect.
In June 2015, the Mesquite Arts Center added a Freedom Park exhibit, in memorial of September 11. The park displays a beam that was recovered from the remains of Ground Zero. The Mesquite Fire Department received the beam in 2011.
Geography Mesquite is located in eastern Dallas County with a portion extending east into Kaufman County. The city is bordered to the west by Dallas, to the north by Garland, to the northeast by Sunnyvale, to the south by Seagoville and Dallas, and to the southwest by Balch Springs.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, is land and is water. Mesquite is part of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metroplex, in which one quarter of all Texans live.
Neighborhoods
Lawson Country Meadows Samuell Farms Meadow Creek Parkview Broadmoor Estates Old Broadmoor Estates Crooked Lane Fuentes Eastern Heights Edgemont Park Creek Crossing Rutherford Falcon's Lair Falcon's Ridge Pecan Creek Rollingwood Hills Skyline Big Town Estates Presidential Estates Pasadena Gardens Original Town Melton Tealwood Northridge Quail Hollow Wildwood Valley Creek Idle wood Meadowview Palos Verdes Hagan Hill Mesquite Park Casa View Heights Solterra Texas
Climate As a part of the DFW area, Mesquite has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) characteristic of the Southern Plains of the United States. It is also continental, characterized by a relatively wide annual temperature range. Located at the lower end of Tornado Alley, Mesquite and the rest of Dallas–Fort Worth are prone to extreme weather.
On average, the warmest month is July. The highest recorded temperature in Mesquite was in 1980. The average coolest month is January. The lowest recorded temperature was in 1989. May is the average wettest month.
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition
+Mesquite city, Texas – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000 Pop 2010% 2000% 2010White (NH)81,38858,21537,79765.36%41.63%25.18%Black or African American (NH)16,42230,01937,00713.19%21.47%24.65%Native American or Alaska Native (NH)6205204520.50%0.37%0.30%Asian (NH)4,6344,4304,2073.72%3.17%2.80%Pacific Islander (NH)6277670.05%0.06%0.04%Some Other Race (NH)1531754410.12%0.13%0.29%Mixed race or Multi-Racial (NH)1,7442,2553,8651.40%1.61%2.57%Hispanic or Latino19,50044,13366,27215.66%31.56%44.15%Total124,523139,824150,108100.0%100.0%100.00%
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 150,108 people, 50,123 households, and 36,989 families residing in the city. The median age was 33.5 years. 27.7% of residents were under the age of 18, and 10.9% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.0 males.
99.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.9% lived in rural areas.
There were 50,123 households in Mesquite, of which 41.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.0% were married-couple households, 16.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 52,615 housing units, of which 4.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.4%.
+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 50,295 33.5% Black or African American 37,721 25.1% American Indian and Alaska Native 2,049 1.4% Asian 4,299 2.9% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 120 0.1% Some other race 29,823 19.9% Two or more races 25,801 17.2% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 66,272 44.1%
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 139,824 people, 48,586 households, and 34,641 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 51,952 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 59.0% White, 21.8% African American, 0.8% Native American, 3.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 11.9% from some other races and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.6% of the population.
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 124,523 people, 43,926 households, and 32,900 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,107.3/km² (2,868.1/mi²). There were 46,245 housing units at an average density of 411.2/km² (1,065.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.54% White, 13.32% African American, 0.60% Native American, 3.75% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 6.43% from other races, and 2.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.66% of the population.
There were 43,926 households out of which 43.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.5% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 33.9% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $50,424, and the median income for a family was $56,357. Males had a median income of $37,756 versus $29,905 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,890. About 5.0% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.